Twin holiness
Legend
The twin cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh have been since a very long
time a centre of religious significance in the history of India.
Haridwar and Rishikesh feature in many mythological stories in Hinduism.
Haridwar is one of the four places where Armut, the elixir of life
is believed to have accidentally spilled while being carried by Garuda.
Brahma Kund, the spot where the Amrit fell, is located at Har ki Pauri.
Rishikesh,
known as the Gateway to Garhwal Himalayas, is said to have been visited
by Lord Rama and Lakshmana to do penance for killing Ravana. The
Lakshman Jhula signifies the rope bridge which Laksmana used to cross
River ganges. The journey to these two cities, visiting shrines and
taking a holy dip in the Ganges are part of one of he most revered
pilgrimage circuits in India.
Deity - Temples
Deity :- Lord Shiva, Goddess Shakti, Goddess Ganga
Temples Covered:-
Manasa Devi Temple
Chandi Devi Temple
Maya Devi Temple
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
Kunjapuri Temple
Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri
Triveni Ghat and so on..
Climate
Haridwar and Rishikesh have hot summers and cold winters.
During summers, the temperatures rise upto mid thirties.
The
winters are pleasant through the day with the temperature dipping
during the evenings to around 10 degree celsius in the month of December
and January.
Auspicious Days
Haridwar is one of the four holy places where the Kumbhmela is held. A large number of devotees come to Haridwar and Rishikesh on Vaishak Purnima to take a dip in the Ganges. Navratri is celebrated with festivities in most of the Devi temples.
Best time to Travel
The pilgrimage can be done throughout the year.
Darshan Info Clock Duration
3 to 4 days from Delhi.
Yatra Preparations
Area Covered
UttarakhandLanguage spoken :- Hindi
Must Haves
Haridwar and Rishikesh have good facilities in the vicinities. But it is advisable to carry water bottles, sunscreen, light snacks and first aid kit as some of the temples are uphill in rural areas.Health Awarness
Haridwar and Rishikesh have good medical facilities. Some of the temples have to be reached by winding roads through the Ghats and may cause motion sickness. Also some temples have stairs to climb which those with serious medical ailments should not attempt to.
Travel Method
All the temples near Haridwar and Rishikesh can be reached by road and ropeways. There might be stairs to some of the shrines. Alternatively, there are trek paths available to the temples atop the hills
Crowd Expected
The are witness a lot of devotees and tourists especially during festivals and peak seasons when the pilgrimages to the Himalayan regions open. During the Kumbh Mela, millions of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists congregate in Haridwar to perform ritualistic bathing on the banks of the river Ganga.
Festivals
Haridwar is one of the four holy places where the Kumbhmela is held. A large number of devotees come to Haridwar and Rishikesh on Vaishak Purnima to take a dip in the Ganges. Navratri is celebrated with festivities in most of the Devi temples.
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